Linda BiggersBroadalbin, NY

Linda Biggers is known for her work as an eggshell mosaic artist. In recent years, her work has evolved to include a variety of media, incorporating beads, tile, and stained glass with the eggshell work. “The inspiration for What Lies Within comes from British artist Helen Nock who creates beautiful large-scale pieces using concrete, metal, and stained glass,” says Biggers. “I love contrast and was drawn to her work and inspired to create a mosaic that had similar contrasts. My eggshell work has an impressionist or sometimes an ethnic feel to it. The slate has lead me to create abstracts, something I find very exciting.” The slate that Biggers used for What Lies Within is roofing slate which came from the roof of her own house. “Several years ago the roof needed repair and I kept some of the roofing slates,” says the artist. “I felt that they were so beautiful and held on to as many as I could, knowing I would us them in a piece one day. The stained glass she uses as tesserae is often scraps from a local stained glass shop, or sometimes even a broken windshield or a shower door.

“I enjoy working with slate,” says Biggers. “I like the way it breaks and the way it feels. It is obviously far different from eggshells! I also find it is much different than glass or tile as it is unpredictable when cutting or breaking it, although, I still have much to learn about cutting slate.” “I wanted to create a piece with interesting contrasts in texture, color, reflectivity, and size of tesserae. I also found it really cool to create a piece of art from something that was part of my home!”